Canary Islands - Mapcard of Gran Canaria

Isla de Gran Canaria.

Sent by Desiree, a postcrosser from Holland.

This is from Wikipedia : Gran Canaria (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡɾaŋ kaˈna.ɾja]; originally meaning 'Great [Island] of Dogs') is the most populous island of the Canary Islands, with population of 829 597 (2008) which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago. Also, it is second most populous island in Spain after Majorca. Located on the Atlantic Ocean about 150 kilometers (~93 miles) off the northwestern coast of Africa and about 1350 km (~838 miles) from Europe.

The capital of the island, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is also the largest city and capital autonomous community of the Canary Islands.

Gran Canaria was populated by the Canarii (Guanches), who may have arrived as early as 500 BC. The Canarii called the island Tamarán or Land of the Brave. After over a century of European (French, Portuguese...) incursions and attempts at conquest, the island was conquered on April 29, 1483, after a campaign that lasted 5 years, by the Kingdom of Castile, with the support of Queen Isabella I, a conquest which turned out to be an important step towards the expansion of the unified Spain.

The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was founded on June 24, 1478, under the name "Real de Las Palmas", by Juan Rejón, head of the invading Castilian army. In 1492, Christopher Columbus anchored in the Port of Las Palmas (and spent some time on the island) on his first trip to the Americas.

Canary Islands - Fataga

GRAN CANARIA
Fataga

Sent by Ave from Gran Canaria-Las Palmas in Canary Islands

This is from Wikipedia : Fataga is a village in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana on the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). Latitude 27°53'15"N, longitude 15°33'50"W. Altitude approx 1980 feet (600 metres) above mean sea level.

The village can trace its origins back for more than 2000 years, when the area of the current village was inhabited by the Guanche natives.

The village became known as Adfatagad in the 16th century, around the time when the struggle for control of the Canary Islands between the Guanches and the Spanish was taking place. Many of the battles in the final stages of this conflict took place in and around the Barranco de Fataga.

By the end of the 19th century, Fataga had some 650 inhabitants, dedicated to the farming of cereals, vegetables and fruits, as well as cattle. At that time it was a self-sufficient farming community, owing its prosperity to the water source known as "El Cercado de Fataga" (The Orchard of Fataga) or "Fuente Grande" (Great Spring).

Fataga is a characteristic village in the island. Old narrow lanes made out of stones and famous historic Canarian houses. The village is part of the list of World Heritage Sites. The village is in the Barranco de Fataga, known as the "valley of the thousand palms" with brown rocks and small shades of green.

The villagers constructed their church dedicated to St. José in the year of 1880. In the period up to the present day new farms and houses have been built often growing fruits such as oranges, lemons, apricots and grapes, however the population of the village has now dropped to around 400.

Fataga is more than a very popular day-trip destination for holidaymakers staying in the coastal regions of Gran Canaria.

Fataga has a small school, two restaurants, tourist areas, a bakery, and a mill. The art gallery which can be found at the back of the village is most certainly worth a visit both for the art and the views from this point.